*FRBR Bookmarklets are similar to those available from Jon Udell (listed above), but take variant ISBNs in the same FRBR worksets into account [http://alcme.oclc.org/bookmarks/ FRBR Bookmarklets]

*FRBR Bookmarklets are similar to those available from Jon Udell (listed above), but take variant ISBNs in the same FRBR worksets into account [http://alcme.oclc.org/bookmarks/ FRBR Bookmarklets]

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*Karin Dalziel's instructions on [http://www.nirak.net/2007/01/25/tutorial-make-a-firefox-search-for-your-website-very-little-coding-required/ how to create a Firefox search extension for any library] using any OPAC by using the ffirefox "Add to search bar" extension. Some computer knowledge required.

== General Bookmarklets ==

== General Bookmarklets ==

Revision as of 16:13, 1 June 2007

Extending the capabilities of various web browsers so that they are better able to integrate with library content. Appropriate topics include both new browser extensions, as well as information about how to create them.

Bookmarklets

Bookmarklets are pieces of JavaScript code, packaged and used as browser bookmarks. These should in theory work in any browser that supports JavaScript. NOTE: JavaScript should not be confused with Java. Despite the (intentionally confusing) names, these are two completely different programming languages. JavaScript was originally, and much more usefully, named LiveScript.

General Bookmarklets

User Scripts

User scripts are, similar to Bookmarklets, pieces of javascript code. Unlike Bookmarklets, they are automatically invoked on the web pages they are made to run on, and still mostly require a specific browser extension to be installed to support them; Internet Explorer needs Reify Turnabout, Mozilla (including Firefox) requires Greasemonkey, Opera can use them natively.

Making User Scripts

Dive into Greasemonkey, while aimed at making Greasemonkey user scripts, has much content applicable to generic user script writing too.

General User Scripts

Firefox Quick Search Keywords

Quick Search Keywords can be used to make bookmarks you can invoke with a keyword, and even pass a parameter to. The original documentation appears to be offline, but it is available from the Internet Archive: Bookmark Keywords.

In a default Firefox install, you will find pre-created quick searches in Bookmarks->Quick Searches.

Mozilla/Firefox Search Plugins

A search plug-in allows you to access a search engine right from your browser, without having to go to the engine's page first. On Mozilla, you can access plugins via the Sidebar or the Location Bar. On Mozilla Firefox you use the search box on the toolbar.

Commercial Search Engines

Other Browser Extensions

Firefox Scholar/SmartFox "it will enable the rich use of library and museum web collections" ... "[it] will enable users, with a single click, to grab a citation to a book, journal article, archival document, or museum object and store it in their browser."

LibrarySearch "when you select text in the browser and right-click, a new context menu appears (Look up selection) that allows you to select which library/resource you would like to pass your selected text to search". From Wayne Graham.

Evergreen An open source Integrated Library System (ILS), written in Xul, developed and maintained by the Georgia Public Library Service (Firefox only).

OPAX A prototype XUL OPAC user interface, built on the functionality and appearance of the Mozilla Amazon Browser (Mozilla/Firefox only).

ResearchBuddy Will help you capture quotes on webpages, with citations.

Gnosis ClearForest Gnosis is a Firefox extension that automatically locates people, places, companies and other entities on the web page as you surf. You can then use these tagged entities to launch additional searches in Wikipedia, Technorati and a variety of other sources.

DevBoi, a sidebar extension for Mozilla and Firefox that offers easy access to XUL documentation and reference manuals.

LibX - A Firefox Extension for Libraries, LibX is a framework from which editions for specific libraries can easily be created. "Librarians: if your library uses Millenium, Horizon, or Voyager, getting your own edition of LibX can take as little as 15 mins..."

One great resource for building toolbars is Conduit. Over 90 libraries have used it so far. It provides a toolbar for Firefox and Internet Explorer. (Formerly Effective Brand)

Programming Resources

Websites, Books, Forums on creating web browser extensions.

The basic expertise you will need is HTML/XHTML, the web formatting language, JavaScript, a lightweight programming language that runs in browsers (unrelated to the Java programming language, despite the name), and XUL if you want to program Firefox specifically.

Enabling Extension Updates "This tutorial will show you how to keep your users up to date with your latest version automatically." A must read for localization

Writing Mozilla Extensions This DemoExt extension has the goal "to provide the simplest amount of functionality necessary to demonstrate how to make a localized, cross-platform extension that works with Firefox and Mozilla Suite." It helped me in figuring out how to localize text strings in javascript files

George Nava's XUL applications Collection of XUL application examples. At the bottom of the page there is "Codex" app that you can use to poke around the source code for the entire collection to see how he made it all work.